Search This Blog

Pages

Botox utilized as a medical prevention of abnormal joint adhesion.

Botox is famous for being used for cosmetic reasons and it
is largely used an anti-ageing treatment to try and reverse fine lines and
wrinkles on the face. It’s also known to get rid of migraines and headaches caused
by possible uncontrollable muscle spasm; Botox inhibits muscle spasms and therefore
causes muscle paralysis thus relieving the headache/migraine. Although Botox has a reputation for being an “age-defying
elixir” it also has medical uses and can be used as a treatment for certain
neuromuscular conditions.

Botulinum toxin (Botox), one of the most poisonous
biological substances known, is a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum). It has eight different antigenically
distinguishable toxins (A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F & G). Type
A Botox is the most potent toxin, most widely available and most widely used
subtype of Botox.

The bacterium product is given via a neuromuscular injection
in very low doses, causing muscle paralysis. It works by irreversibly inhibiting
the release of acetyl choline, which is the principal neurotransmitter at the
neuromuscular junction; therefore causing muscular paralysis.

It is also really essential and vital to have excellent knowledge
and understanding of the functional anatomy of the mimetic muscles and it is
absolutely necessary to correctly use botulinum toxins in clinical practise to
avoid accidental poisoning and/or unnecessary complications.

Definition: Ankylosisoranchylosis (fromGreekἀγκύλος,
bent, crooked) is a stiffness of ajointdue to
abnormal adhesion and rigidity of the bones of the joint, which may be the
result ofinjuryordisease.

TMJ
(temporomandibular joint) consists of the lateral pterygoid muscle which is a
muscle found at the top of the jaw closer to the ear. The TMJ is in a very intricate
and delicate position (in the jaw) making it susceptible to injury especially
during rear-end collisions involving cervical whiplash and other blows to the
face.

Traumatic TMJA can be induced by trauma, injury or
infection; causing rigidity of the jaw bone, making life difficult as it evidently
becomes complicated and painful to eat and drink normally. The problematic
condition is really difficult to treat as several operations are required,
followed by physiotherapy and regular checkups to monitor the condition and to
check for possible infections or other problems.

It has been found that Botox can prevent traumatic TMJA, therefore
preventing rigidity of jaw muscle keeping it flexible. It is also vital that it
is injected soon after jaw surgery.

How the treatment
is carried out:

Muscle size and activity is monitored first. The topical anaesthetic,
Lidocaine is given first; the specific dose of Botox A is calculated especially
for the patient- a dose of 5-10 units is generally recommended or 20-40 units depending
on the patient requirements. Then the injection is monitored by electromyography
(ECG) whilst the patient is being injected into the muscle, assuring that the veins
are being avoided clearly. It is vital that the patient then receives further checkups
to test the function of lateral pterygoid
muscle and temporomandibular joint to decide whether they need to reinject with
Botox, check for infections, or if the patient needs some further therapy such
as open mouth training and physiotherapy.

This new method of treatment is effective for preventing ankylosis
of the jaw bone, caused by trauma, and also Botulinum Toxin A is a cost
effective method which is useful to make it widely available for patients that
require treatment.

Personally I’m against the use of Botox for cosmetic reasons;
however it is good to utilise it as a medical cure in certain medical cases
such as traumatic TMJA. There are many
other medical cases that can utilise Botox as a cure which can be discussed in
future posts.